Avett brothers is pronounced A-vet, I've been pronouncing it 'av-it like let's 'av it, and the crowd tonight want it, they woop and cheer and whistle and bop and hop and some wafted away the darts that float through the crowd. They stop short however of delirium and woe betide the greasy haired hoarse throated dude who arrives in the midst two songs in, he sings and raises his cup of beer and jumps around, and the quieter older crowd don't like him. People around him move, he spills beer on a lady and gets told off, "chill" he retorts. I'm split, I criticised the crowd at Yeasayer for being boring but this is different and he's pissing me off too. Every song is met with a yelp of "I love this song" and "this is sooo good" before hugging his calmer more rational friend who tries to get him to calm down and has to pull him away from others. An older guy in front of him tells him off and so greasy dude sings loudly in his ear, which goes down a storm, eventually he moves sideways and at some point he stops, he has a come down and just stands there looking morose. I dont quite understand this guy, the crowd are all up for this gig, this is the second time they have played in London and is a bit special, it's sold out and though the performance is energetic most are happy to just soak it up. Greasy dude appreciates it more than most, or perhaps he is pretty drunk or has taken something, the way he suddenly stops. But he could have gone mad somewhere else in the audience? Double standards? I'm not sure.
Enough of him though, back to the music, this should be in a barn, sawdust and spit and loads of booze, it's fun, it's sincere, it's heartfelt. Put 'em on at Glastonbury late one night in a tent or the band stand and people will go berserk, or in the acoustic stage maybe.
They play a range of songs from across their eleven albums during a long set, 19 initial songs followed by a two song encore. They don't play my faves, notable "Kick Drum Heart" and "January Wedding" but I'll forgive them as the whole package itself was beautiful.
Lead duo Scott and Seth Avett, hence the name swap roles playing guitar, drums, piano and banjo as well as sharing singing rolls. The band is completed by bassist Bob Crawford and cellist Joe Kwon. Joe looks like a hicks Yo-Yo Ma, he has long hair and a big tache and he closes his eyes as he draws out the saddest notes. His cello seems suspended in the air perhaps it is on a harness, he plays like a rock star and smacks his bow on the strings with such vigour the hairs flail around which he duly rips off from time to time. I imagine he restrings his bow before gigs like a guitarist would.
They open with "I And Love And You" song "And It Spread" before playing a fair few I didn't recognise, I have only listened to four or five of their albums, but enjoyed none the less. It was one of those great concerts where both the band and the audience are up for it and even though a portion of the audience might not know some of the songs, they all enjoy and appreciate it. You couldn't want more from the band, the softer ballads are sung with sincerity and belief and there is a particularly beautiful rendition of "The Ballad Of Love And Hate" sung by Seth Avett on his own with just his acoustic guitar for company. I hadn't heard it before but the way he sings it and the song itself are beautiful and draw a raptured crowd for its duration. They finish the main set with "I And Love And You" via a rocking "Slight Figure Of Speech" and great renditions of "Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full Of Promise" and "Salina".
Scott Avett particularly gets the crowd, and the girls, going, clean cut and good looking he sings with vigour and throws in observational lines about being in London and having a good time. It's personal and great to have such a link with the band.
You couldn't want more from the band, I urge readers to check them out and be serenaded.When I say "Let's" you say "Avett"....
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